After a long hiatus, these workers are heading back to Israel

The Thai labor ministry stated on Monday that Thailand will resume sending agricultural workers to Israel this week after an eight-month hiatus. They plan to have more than 10,000 Thai citizens working in the country by the end of the year, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Prior to the October conflict, around 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel's agriculture sector, one of the largest groups of migrant workers. The Thai government confirmed that during the October 7 Hamas attack, 39 Thais were killed, and 32 were taken hostage.

A first wave of about 100 workers is set to depart from Bangkok on Tuesday, followed by a subsequent group in early July. Many Thais, particularly from the rural northeast, are attracted to jobs in Israel due to higher wages and the opportunity to alleviate substantial debt, a significant issue for millions in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.